Shelley College: PE AS & A Level

Head of Department: Mr M Tunnacliffe & Mrs L Sykes

AS Level PE
Entry requirements

1. Grade B or above at GCSE level
2. Look at academic potential shown in GCSE – theory exam + personal study
3. Students do not have to have taken GCSE PE
4. Look at overall academic achievement-5 GCSE’s at grade C or better
5. Look at practical potential-must have some basic ability

Course Specification:
The Students do two units and Module i has two sections:
An introduction to Physical Education
Acquiring, developing and evaluating practical skills in PE

Assessment of theory: (60%)
1 exam paper: 2 Hours and 3 questions
Practical:
Students choose two activities from 10 different activity areas.
Assessed in ability to select and apply skills in a competitive situation.

Assessment of practical - 40%
Candidates will observe a live performance by another candidate in one of their own assessed performance activities. Candidates will then consider the factors that make for an effective and efficient performance in this activity. These include the strengths and weaknesses of the performance, an action plan to improve a specific weakness, the health and fitness benefits and the opportunities, locally and nationally, for performers to participate

Why choose to do AS PE?

1. Good past results
2. Students gain access to all universities (see past student info. on display)
3. Several sporting scholarships available now
4. Several further ed. courses include sport/PE/leisure/recreation with another study area
5. Leisure/sport industry booming
6. Look closely at mix of courses- AS PE has overlap with some other subject areas
7. If considering sport as career path then must do as PE nowadays because of number of students doing as PE, universities & colleges can become selective.

If students go on to A2 PE

1. Scheme of assessment changes-theory worth 35% =practical 15% from as level.
2. Students can change practical activities if they wish or continue with same two as in year 12
3. assessment areas in practical change – effective performance (how good they can play activity) + critical evaluation (observation + analysis)
4. Assessment also includes a synoptic assessment from observation of a live performance of one of their chosen activities.
5. Theory worth 35% + practical 15% added to as marks

A Level PE
Entry requirements:
Do I have to have done GCSE PE?
No. The course will be new to everyone although some PE and/or Biology will help.

Do I need to be good at sport?
No, because you do not have to be assessed on performance. You can choose to be assessed as an official or coach.

Which other "A" levels are useful with PE?
We have had students with all kinds of successful combinations and it depends on what you want as a career. If you want to be a Physiotherapist or PE Teacher then choose a science such as Biology. If you want to be a Sports Journalist then choose English.

What career will PE lead to?
Teaching, Physiotherapy, Sports Administration, Medicine or careers based on combinations with other A levels.

What is A-level PE?
The modular physical education specification allows students to gain an AS level in one year or a full A-level after two years. The course is divided into four units, half of which are studied in year one for the AS level and the other two units in year two, studied in more detail, for the A-level. These units of study contain both theoretical and practical coursework in addition to examinations in June of each year of the course.

What does the practical work involve?
The practical component in AS counts for 40% of your AS mark. Students are assessed on a variety of roles, with two from:

1. performer
2. coach
3. official

These two roles can be from either the same or different activities. In the second year, students continue with one of the roles experienced at AS-level, (ie as performer, coach or official).

Sports activities on offer include:
Mountain walking, Swimming, Soccer, Netball, Hockey, Rugby League, Basketball, Badminton, Tennis, Squash, Dance, Cricket and Trampolining.

If this is not one of the sports you can do we can liaise with your coach/instructor and support you in an alternative choice. Most of the sports listed above can be performed in your own time via college, clubs and societies. In your college PE lessons we will introduce you to the sport of orienteering, through which you can learn to officiate, coach or perform!

What does the theory work involve?
The theoretical content of the study units contains the following topics:-

Anatomy and Physiology
This topic covers a range of different areas at AS/A-level including muscle actions, fitness and health, nutrition, control of breathing/heart rate, energy sources, temperature regulation and lots more!

Skill Acquisition
The AS course requires you to understand areas such as reaction time and memory linked to sport, as well as how to plan/deliver effective coaching sessions. The emphasis is placed on learning theory in practical teaching situations.

Sport Psychology
At A-level the main focus is how various aspects of mental preparation affect elite sports performers, including topics such as stress/anxiety control, arousal and controlling aggression.

Historical/Contemporary Issues
At both AS and A-level a variety of modern day issues relating to sports participation will be covered, including organisations and initiatives involved in raising participation levels amongst various sections of society. At A-level there is more of a focus on elite sport and how the UK is attempting to ‘win more medals’. The historical development of state PE is covered at AS-level before a consideration of how sport became more organised and structured from the late 19th Century onwards, which is studied at A-level.

Why choose A-level PE?

1. Those with a genuine interest and ability in practical Physical Education.
2. Those with an eye to a career in leisure, teaching, physiotherapy, nursing, management.
3. Those who wish to combine a good A-level with a variety of others - with science - Biology. and Physics, or arts - History, Geography, English.
4. Those who can research and follow it up.
5. Those who can openly discuss issues.
6. Those who will enjoy it!